Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-03-13
TUE YAKIMA COUNTRY.
Wheat sowing In
Deeember.
nstteg Bulfa q Heme IN the Blae
Grass Regisn than spend Toug
YeaFs CHtfinG Away the
R0Peaa
fvurrrs Eoa TIE Posr urrE111oEzoEn. !

fWaTrTKN FOA IKE POST INTEAs1IoEACE8 u
I have known the ISrELLI0KNcER
since its FIRST publication, and now
that II Is larger and with a more ex-
tensiye circulation, believe that it
might do much in opening up this
COUNTRY to settlement, il inclined 10
publish an occasional descriptive letter.
When the road is completed there will
be considerable travel from here TO the
Sound, for the purpose Of seeing the
country and the purchase Of merchan-
disc. There are. even at this early
season. many persons coming from
east Of the Rocky Mountains 10 exam
inc the land here, and, il possible. find
suitable locations where they will be
free from the extreme cold and severe
storms which have existed in some
Northwestern States during the past
winter, while we OF Eastern Washing
ton have been favored with unusually
hne weather.
On the first Of December a patch Of
land on my place was plowed and
some fancy wheat soWn; later IL was
cold, the ground froze, and snow fell
siI inches deep. After that there was
warm spell, which melted the snow
and left the ground bare. | think /
am right in saying that during the
month Of December many acres were
plowed aud sown in wheat. The
greatest depth Of snow here has been
Twelve inches, while below, on Yakima
River, II has been less and higher up
IN the mountains IL has been still
deeper, and / am told that high up
toward the summit there was the usual
amount OF snow, which. when warm
weather comes. viii furnish plenty OF
water for irrigating purposes. On
Sunday morning last there was eight
inches OF snow. in the evening one
half Of il was melted and the ground
covered with water running of in little
streams. Today there is only little
patch of snow TO be seen here and
there upon the lowlands. The streams
are full, the roads are muddy, and.
though the day is bright and sunny,
there is but little moving around, be-
cause the ground is too soft.
Horses from this settlement are
every fall driven east Of the Yakima
Tor winter range between that and the
Columbia. and the owners do not see
them during the winter months; but
when the grass is well up In the spring
they are driven back here, where the
owners can look after them and brand
the young colts II the weather should
continue as warm as at present, in a
few weeks the hillsides win be covered
with green bunch grass
Ii Is a great convenience 20 owners
" stock to be able 70 turn them out
upon rich bunch grass, where they can
for at least six months in each year eat
and grow fat as II fed upon corn. tits
true that feed must be provided for
winter. il it is intended 20 keep cattle
in a saleahle condition, but IL is prefer.
able to clearing land Of heavy timber
and tolling years 10 furnish few acres
Of pasture and also To provide winter
feed, The stranger coming here and
finding the grass is OF reddish brown
color when he thinks il should be
green, is not at first pleased; but when
he has remained long enough TO learn
that bunch grass Is equal 20 corn az a
tAtproducer. and that one can live
here easier aud with less care than In a
timber country, he becomes content
aud remains.
Here ia the foothills there is plenty
ot timber near by, but the farther one
gees away from the mountain range,
The farther he must haul firewOod aud
fencing posts The lawful fence may
now be made with posts set twelve feet
apart aud three strands of harbed wire.
the top one - inches from the ground,
or three poles ar rails, or mixture of
poles and wire. as may best suit the
builder.
One looking for a home and finding
~ acres Of good soil for cultivation.
N,th A sea ct bunch grass around him.
vii ind it easier to get a good living
han 20 60 into heavy timber. where it
Sui require thirty years to clear thirty
acres settlers are now building homes
within twenty miles Of the summit OF
>no4ualmie Pass lfaman had named
such a thing four years ago, he would
have been called crazy
BENJANfS DoLBEAR.
WENts, YAKIMA Co, W. T., March
oh, lSs5